Dream Daddy Review

The charming dads of "Dream Daddy"

Visual novels or games that feature detailed stories accompanied by sprites and music have been a staple in Japan since the early 1990s. Ren’ai games or “dating sims” that revolve around branching story paths where you romance characters go back just as far. It has taken a long time for the genre to gain mainstream attention overseas but Western indie developers have been utilizing this wonderful storytelling medium with increasing visibility and Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator is one of the most unique, charming examples in recent memory.

In Dream Daddy you play as a widower (who you name and create with a highly diverse “dadsona” character creator) that has recently moved to a new neighborhood with your teenage daughter, Amanda. Your character is a little nervous about socializing but your studly neighbors are friendly -- youth pastor Joseph welcomes you by bringing over a plate of cookies and an amusingly awkward exchange occurs when you both make social faux pax and he leaves, immediately knocks on the door again so that the two of you can re-introduce one another. This sets the tone for the very organic, realistic interactions a lot of the characters have. 

Dad jokes abound

After that you have the option of going to different places and meeting some of the other dads. Jolly barbeque-loving Brian is at the dog park with his daughter Daisy and corgi Maxwell. After you accidentally gets hit with Brian’s frisbee and meet Maxwell (there is an amusing conversation option for the dog), you strike up a conversation with Brian about your daughters and get to experience the first of several hilarious mini-games revolving around trying to one-up each other with your daughters’ accomplishments.

The Pokemon mini-game with Brian was definitely my favorite

Throughout the rest of your first two days you also meet the cool but adorably awkward music lover-cum-coffee shop proprietor Mat (whose menu revolves around music references; you and Amanda get to help him choose a music-related name for his new banana bread -- Right Said Banana Bread, Banana Bread Kennedys, or Grateful Banana Bread), “bad dad” Robert (who is drinking whiskey at the bar watching “the game” and with whom you can have a one night stand with), erudite, classy high school teacher Hugo, and the goth Victorian fashionista Damien (who you run into at Hot Topic/Spencer’s hybrid “Dead, Goth, and Beyond”).

From here on out you have the option of pursuing and/or befriending the carious dads in different situations. You learn more about them and their families at a neighborhood barbeque at Joseph’s house and can strike up conversations and eventually go on dates after connecting on “DadBook.”

I don’t want to go into too much detail about the various plots and backstories but I was very pleased with Dream Daddy. There’s a lot of heart and as well as some intrigue, drama, hilarious in-universe running gags (several of the characters are invested in reality TV series “Long Haul Ice Road Paranormal Ghost Truckers”) and touching family situations -- struggling to deal with rebellious kids acting out, trying to meet your increasingly independent daughter halfway, strained marriages, and coping with loss.

I had low expectations when it was initially announced, as I assumed it was going to be a joke. Although I quickly became intrigued as lead developers Vernon Shaw (of Game Grumps fame) and Leighton Grey released more information, it vastly exceeded my expectations in terms of the writing, characterization, and diversity.

It’s not without its flaws, as I did run into some minor bugs where the choice I selected had the opposite outcome and the story progressed. The mini-games aren’t always especially fun (some of the controls are iffy) but I definitely feel I got my $14.99 worth. I’ve seen some people object to the voice acting being very minimal vocalizations rather than fully voiced narration butI think it’s unreasonable to expect full voice acting for a game with such a low price tag -- there’s simply too much dialogue.

If you’ve never played a dating sim or visual novel, don’t let the medium scare you and don’t assume it’s going to be boring -- Dream Daddy is a fun, self-aware, and sweet story-telling experience with interesting gameplay elements. Give it a try.

-Laura Platypus

Dream Daddy is available on Steam for $14.99.